Separation and purification of gaseous mixture



Patented June SEPARATION toflioppers Qompany, a

, "4N0 Drawing.

a M 14 Claims; I

The present invention relates to improvementsin the separationtofweakhacidic gases; such as hydrogen sulphide and .the like, from gaseous 4 mixtures containing thesame, as for example" 5 industrialrfuelgases;air ori products or'eombus tion, and pertains more'especially to processes wherein substances containing within their molecular. structure an :hydroxylfgroup or groups" phenolic in nature, are used in "aqueous solution forscrubbing' th'e gaseous mixtures from'which it is desired to-remove-the weakly acidic gases, the hydroxyl group, phenolic in type, having been demonstrated appropriate for this purpose in mnseqhence of distinctive chemical characteristicswhich 'makeit" highly desirable for exploitation' in hot-actiflcation liquid purification procfl essesfor the-removal of impurities from gases. In the co-pending application ofv Joseph A. ,Shaw, SerialNo; 570,961 filed October 24, 1931. now Patent 2,028,124 'isdisclosed a process and suitable apparatus for. its practice whereby gases of the-nature of hydrogen sulphide may be removed fromgaseousmixtures containing the same and by employing an alkaline solutionof phenol,-or any of its'alkylated substitution products, such as the cresois, xylenols, etc., or mixtures thereof as are found in the commercial product known as "tar acids. a The therein disclosed process is a continuous one, comprising, an absorption step, and a regeneration step for the fouled solution used in' the absorption step and practised substantially in the manner used in liquid purification processes in general. In the absorption step, the gaseous mixture to be processed is brought into intimate contact-in a-gas-and-liquid contact apparatus with a solution containing an alkali and a phenol. Phenol being electrolytically dissociated in aqueous solution to exhibit the acidic characteristics oiwe'aker-acids, combines with the alkali present toform a salt. In consequence, however. of the relatively feeble acidic properties of phenol, said-saltis hydrolyzed to such extent as to provide a solution having an alkaline reaction with an absorptive capacity for the weak gaseous acids-to be removed from the gaseous mixture treated in the absorption stage. Furthermore, the. phenol being somewhat more weakly acidic than the acldic gases; is displaced or sprung from combination with the alkali, so that the alkali phenolate present in the solution serves as. a continuoussourceof alkali to combine with the acidic gases. "Theliberated phenol, being water soluble; is carriedinasolution in the fouled washing medium as it flows from the absorption step to the regeneration stepgor, if present in concentrations'such-thatuthe quantities of liberated phenol exceed its solubilityin the scrubbing solution,.will separatefrom-said solution in a liquid phase, as for example an emulsion, which flows peratures.

2 ,1 63,169 ANDPURIFICATION OF GasEous' MIXTURE uma A. oon'mr, llnion Townshi Union County, vN. J., assignor, b gmesne assignments,

corporation of Delaware Application January 11,1936, Serial No. 58,773 V (Cl.12 3--2)' r from the gas-and-liquid contact apparatus, entrained in the scrubbing solution entering the regeneration step.

In the regeneration step, the fouled solution enetrsa regenerating column or actifler where the temperature is substantially raised, preferably to the'boiling point, whereby the escaping water -vapors, by their sweeping action, remove the gaseous impurities absorbed from the gaseous mixturej' following which, the solution, with its impurity absorbing ability substantially restored to its former capacity, is cooled and reintroduced into the gas-and-liquid contact apparatus to be recycled for the removal of more impurities from a new quantity of the gaseous mixture.

From'this brief description of a liquid purification process embracing the use of a phenolate 1 solution having an alkaline reaction, it becomes apparent that in the absorption step of such a process, the presence of the phenol or its homo- I logues in the washing solution, in consequence the acidic gases being absorbed at the temperatures obtaining in the absorption step, do not interefere substantially with the absorption of the impurities.

In the regeneration or actification step, however, the presence of the phenol or its homologues plays an important role at the regeneration tem- At the elevated temperatures obtaining in this step, the absorbed impurities show an increased partial pressure in the vapors above the solution, which fact promotes the breaking up of their combinations with the alkali removed from combination with the phenols, and promotes their displacement from the fouled solution by a sweep-gas such as steam. The previously liberated phenols still present in the fouled solution, thereupon recombine with the alkali liberated by the volatilized impurities, such as hydrogen sulphide, and reform the alkali phenolate, and if 1 they have been liberated in the absorption step absorbed in'the absorption step and so by their presence, tend to assist and accelerate the regeneration-of the fouled solutions absorbing ability;

The vapors evolved during the regeneration step are dephlegmated and at such temperatures that any phenols incidentally volatilized with the impurities; such as hydrogen sulphide, are returned to the scrubbing solution, while the hythe ability of the phenolic group to combine with alkalies to form soluble salts which are hydrolyzed in solution to impart to the same an alkaline reaction, provide this hydroxyl group with special attributes which make it especially signiflcant and adaptable to a hot-actiiication liquid purification process for gas, according to the process disclosed in the aforementioned and, copending application.

I have found that these unique characteristics of the phenolic hydroxyl group are not restricted to that group in the simple compound phenol,

but are the common property of all hydroxyl groups attached directly to the benzene nucleus; that is to say, not only does phenol conform to my requirements, but the dihydric and polyhydric phenols likewise exhibit substantially these same characteristics preferred in the simple member of this class of chemical entities. Fur-'- thermore, a wide variety of substituents may be introduced into the benzene nucleus containing a phenolic hydroxyl group or groups, without altering substantially for gas purification purposes the characteristics of the phenolic hydroxyl group or groups also present, and certain substituents, as will be hereinafter shown, offer operating advantages in special applications of this method of purification. Such substituents include: alkyl groups, methoxy or ethoxy groups and the like, strongly acidic groups derived from the polybasic acids such as the sulphonic or carboxylic group, a phenyl group, which with phenol yields the compound .hydroxy-dipheny'l and a reduced benzene nucleus or reduced sulphur or combinations thereof. Hydroxyl derivatives of naphthalene, and substituted derivatives thereof made from the substituents in the above-mentioned groups, including halogen and nitro groups, as well as reduced derivatives of naphthalene such as ar-tetrahydro-naphthol, which contains a phenolic group substituted in the unalteredbenzene nucleus, and tyrosine may be mentionediby way of example as suitable for my P p In general, the substitution of a negative group into the aromatic nucleus increases somewhat the electrolytic dissociation of an hydroxyl group attached to the same nucleus. This increase in acidic properties is of a relatively minor order, however, and any tendency to increased acid ionization of the hydroxyl group so induced,

which would have a tendency to reduce the eiliciency in the absorption step, is compensated for by its increased eflectlveness in the actiiication step.

The acidic/ characteristics of negative groups substituted in the benzene nucleus, if such negative groups are electrolytically dissociable in aqueous solution to produce hydrogen ions, as for example obtain; in the case of the sulphonic .or carboxylic groups, are of such order of magnitude as to remove them from the class of groups preferred for their special effectiveness in the actual absorption or.actiflcation reactions of a liquid purification process of this type;

arcane substituent groups belonging to this class and found attached directly to the benzene nucleus in such compounds as for example anthranilic, benzoic and benzene sulphonic acids, are relatively such strong acids that weakly acidic gases of the nature of 'hydrogensulphide, hydrogen cyanide and the like, cannot displace them from their combinations with strong alkalies, and in consequence of this characteristic, circulating solutions carrying their salts in. a hot-actification liquid purification process would have only relatively minor absorption eifectiveness for the weakly acidic gases above-mentioned.

However, when a phenolic hydroxyl group is also present in the same molecule as the sulphonic or carboxylic group or their equivalents, the desired chemical characteristics exhibited by that phenolic group, when the same is the sole substituent in the nucleus, remain substantially unaltered for my purpose and conform to my requirements in both the absorption and actincatlon stage of the purification process.

Having now disclosed that substituted phenols, in general, are effective in a hot-actiiication liquid purification process, I will now show that certain advantages accrue from their use in such a process, these advantages resulting from the inherent chemical nature of the sub stituent itself or from alteration of certain physical characteristics of the phenol molecule, effected by such substituents, which are essentially divorced from and with practically no influence on the preferred reactions of the phenolic group and therefore incidental thereto.

Generally speaking, as the hydrogen atoms on the aromatic nucleus of phenol are replaced by heavier substituents, the vapor pressure of the resulting substances is decreased from that obtaining for phenol at corresponding temperatures. This reduction in vapor pressure is highly desirable in aliquid purification process of the type under consideration. As afore-described, in the absorption step, the alkali salt of the phenol is sprung by the weakly acidic gases to liberate phenol which then exists in the recirculated solution either in solution or, if its solubility therein is exceeded, remains separated therefrom until" redissolved in the actiflcation step. The so liberated phenol exhibits ahigher vapor pressure than when present in the washing solution as a phenolate and in consequence thereof,- an increased tendency to vaporize into the gaseous mixture being scrubbed and be carried along therewith in the vapor phase when said mixture passes from the absorber. Any loss of the reagent so incurred must be substituted by new additions of the same to the solution and, although the amounts involved maybe relatively small, they occasion operating inconvenience and are an added expense. It becomes apparent therefore, that any measures taken to alter the nature of the molecule carrying the phenolic radical, so that the molecule exhibits substantially equivalent effectiveness for the purpose disclosed but is accompanied by a decreased vapor pressure, provide improved operating conditions and economic aspects to a process for the liquid purification of gas, which is based on the special characteristics and reactions of the hydroxyl group aflixed directly to the benzene nucleus.

Of the available nucleus substituents which will accomplish the purpose of my present improvement, some provide decided advantages over others, If a substituent belongs to that group of radicals dissociated electrolytically to furnish acids having greater dissociation constants than the weekly acidic gases it is desired to remove from the processed gaseous mixture, as obtains in the case of a sulphonlc or carboxylic group or theirequivalents aiiixed directly to the' benzene ring, such groups have only incidental eflect on the preferred reactions involving the removal of the acidic gases, but'contribute highly desirable characteristics to the molecule in which the phenolic radical is also embodied. Their presence in the molecule in the aforementioned orientation imparts thereto, in general, an ability to form relatively stable salts with alkalies. These salts are water soluble and little hydrolyzed, and the phenolic group in such compounds when -"sprung" from combination with alkali in the absorption step, is still attached toa molecule'of relatively high solubility, so that any inconveniences which .might present themselves due to the segregation of a less soluble reagent in the absorber, are obviated. Moreover, these acid radicals, which exhibit, relatively strong acidic characteristics and consequently remain combined with alkali during the absorption stage,- not only function to. retain the reagent in solution but to reduce its vapor pressure significantly below that obtaining were such groups not present in the molecule, so that losses due to vaporization of the reagent during the absorption and expelling of the acidic gases are negligible. In other words, the presence of acidic groups, such as the sulphonlc, carboxylic and the like combined--with an alkali, as substituents in the aromatic nucleus of a compound containing a phenolic-hydroxyl group, acts as a sort of anchor to retain that compound in solution and inhibits its vaporization.-

It is of course understood, that when the substituted phenolic compounds ofl'eredas reagents.

by my improvement of-a method for the liquid purification of gas, contain a relatively strong acidic group as the sole or one of the substituents in the hydroxylbearing aromatic nucleus, sufllcient of the preferred alkali is added to the solution containing said compound or compounds to completely satisfy the acid requirements of the acid derived substituent or substituents before establishing the preferred molar relationship between the alkali and phenolic group or groups. The alkali used for neutralization of'the acid derived substituents plays only an incidental'role in the purification reactions, andis not available for the absorption of the weakly acidic gases.

It is already known to me that certain organic acids containing a sulphonlc or carboxylic group, have been used for a purpose similar to that herein disclosed. The compounds so used, however, have had their sulphonlc or carboxylic groups attached at the ends of alipahtic chains containing simultaneously an amino or imino group and in such disposition and relationship in molecules, the acidic nature of these acid groups is significantly reduced below that obtaine I ing for the weakly acidic gases it is desired to ablike, they exhibit such strongly acidic properties that the weakly acidic gases, like hydrogen sulphide, are unable to eflectively displace .them from combinations with alkalies. In consequence oi this fact, it becomes apparent that alkali salts or the sulphonlc and carboxylic radicals, and the like, attached directly to the benzene nucleus are ineffective absorbents for the removal of weakly acidic gases from mixtures containing them. An hydroxyl group, however, simultaneously attached to the benzene nucleus along with a sulphonlc or carboxylic group, retains those characteristics which the hydroxyl radical exhibits in the compound phenol and which make it eminently desirable for the application under consideration.-

It is,therefore, further apparent, as beforesaid, that even though the acid radicals of the aforementioned type are. too highly dissociated electrolytically to function in the cyclic absorption and actiflcatlon reactions, they nevertheless contribute to the molecule simultaneously .contalning phenolicgroups properties which are incidental to said reactions but highly desirable in a compound used for promoting a liquid purification process based on the special characteristics and reactions of aphenolic radical or radicals.

-In consequence of the fact that these substituted phenols have less tendency to-be vaporized from the washing solution than phenol and more especially so at elevated temperatures they become particularly significant in those applications of this-method of purifying gases where the gaseous mixtures are maintained at the higher temperature levels during the scrubbing process.

The following examples will show results that have been obtained by using the substituted phenols of my invention as media according to the present improvement for the removal of weakly acidic .gases from mixtures containing them.

Example 1 A gaseous mixture containing-5% by volume of hydrogen sulphide and under lbs. pressure -per sq. in. was washed at a temperature of 150 F. with an aqueous solution containing 3.78 moles of sodium phenol-sulphonate and 3.3 moles of potassium hydroxide per gallon-32.5 gallons of solution being used per 1000 cu. ft. of gas at'ncrmal temperature and pressure. 95% of the hydrogen sulphide was removed from the gas. The fouled solution was removed from contact with the gas and boiled and 71.4%of the hydrogen sulphide absorbed by the solution in the absorption stage was removed when 11.7 lbs. of steam were evaporated therefrom.

Example 2 A mixture of gases at a pressure of lbs. per sq. in. and containing 3.5% by volume of hydrogen sulphide, was scrubbed with a solution having the same analysis as that in the abovegiven example and at a temperature of 77 F. When the equivalent of 1000 cu. ft. of gas at normal temperature and pressure, was brought into contact with 18.3 gallons of the scrubbing solution 99.99% of the hydrogen, sulphide was removed from the gaseous mixture. The-total fouled solution was then sent to the regeneration tower and heated to the boiling point where 97.2% of the absorbed hydrogen sulphide was removed thereirom by the evaporation of 36.8 lbs. of steam.

, trample! A gaseous mixture containing 5% by volume of hydrogen sulphide and at a pressure of 100 lbs. per sq. in. was scrubbed at a temperature of 25 C, with an aqueous solution containing 6.62 moles of sodium para-hydroxy-benzoate and 4.77 moles of sodium hydroxide per gallon. of the hydrogen sulphide was removed from the gaseous mixture when 150 gallons of said solution were brought into contact 'with 1000 cu. ft. of compressed gas. The fouled solution contained 2360 grains of hydrogen sulphide per gallon and after heating the same to the boiling point and passing therethrough 7.83 lbs of steam per gallon of fouled solution, an actifled solution containing 1000 grains of hydrogen sulphide per gallon was produced which was returned to the process to .treat new quantities of the gaseous mixture.

E'zample 4 A gas such as is obtained in the pyrogenetic d ecomposition of high molecular weight petroleum products and which contained approximately 8000 grains of hydrogen sulphide per cu. ft. was treated at a temperature of 25 C. in a gas and liquid contact tower with a solution containing the hydrogen sulphide contained in the untreat ed gas. The fouled solution containing about 1010 grains of hydrogen sulphide per gallon was continuously withdrawn from the scrubbing tower and supplied to a stripping column where said fouled solution was heated to boiling and steam passed therethrough at the rate of 0.41 lb. per gallon of solution. The solution issuing from the stripping column contained about 230 grains of .hydrogen sulphide per gallon. This solution was then returned to the gas and liquid contact tower for the washing of new quantities of the raw gas. The vapors issuing from the stripping apparatus are then cooled to condense the steam,

the hydrogen sulphide gases being disposed of or utilized, as for example, for the manufacture of sulphuric acid in any preferred manner.

In the following claims, it will be understood that the term organic acid" is used to refer to such acids as are generally considered to be organic in nature and that therefore alkali derivatives of carbonic acid are not intended to be included. An aromatic compound is understood to be one containing at least one so-called benzene" or "aromatic" nucleus of six carbon atoms, the simplest and unsubstituted form of which is the compound benzene; hence, an aromatic acid is one containing at least one such nucleus in its molecular structure. A phenolic group or radical is an hydroxyl group substituted for one of the hydrogens of the benzene nucleus and therefore becomes a nuclear substituent. A phenolic acid is a compound containing within its molecular structure a phenolic group and an acid radical such as the sulphonic, carboxylic group or the like which may or may not be attached directlyto the benzene nucleus but which is electrolytically dissociated in aqueous solution to produce hydrogen ions,

In order that my above-given premises may be more clearly understood, I will cite examples of compounds containing the benzene nucleus which are not appropriate for my process of gas mono-basic acids which are too highly dissociated electrolytically to permit any alkali metals combined with the carboxyl group being available for eflective combination with the weakly acidic gases such as hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide and the like. However, when compounds having this same general structure have an hydroxyl group substituted for one or more of the hydrogen atoms of the benzene nucleus to form such compounds as para-hydroxy-benzoic acid 30.0.1! .COOH) or hydroxy-phenyl-acetic acid (HO.CH4.CH1.COOH) which acids are capable of combining with two atoms of an alkali metal, they are appropriate for the herein described process of gas purification by reason of the phenolic hydroxyl group, which although combined with an alkali metal in a solution, is so weakly'held thereby that the alkali becomes available for the absorption of the above-mentioned weakly acidic gases, and the alkali metal in combination with the carboxyl group, although not available for the absorption of the acidic gases, provides the substance with the highly desirable characteristics store-mentioned.

As an added example, benzene sulphonic acid (CsHs.SO2OH) is too strong an acid for my purpose but phenol sulphonic 'acid (HO.C'sH4.SOzOH) provides the herein-described highly desirable results.

The invention as hereinabove set forth is embodied in particular form and manner but may be variously embodied within the scope of the claims hereinafter made.

I claim:

1. A process for the removal of hydrogen sulphide, hydrogen cyanide, carbon dioxide and the like from mixtures containing them which comprises, washing said mixtures with an alkaline solution containing a base in combination with a chemical compound containing at least one benzene nucleus on separate carbon atoms of which are an hydroxyl group and a carboxylic group, the absorption solution being regenerated with heat.

2. A process for removing hydrogen sulphide, and the like, from gaseous mixtures containing the same which comprises washing the gaseous mixture at elevated temperatures not exceeding 90 C. with an alkaline solution containing the salt of a base in combination with an organic acid, said acid containing at least one acid group selected from the group consisting of carboxylic and sulfonic groups and capable of removing hydrogen sulphide and the like from combination with alkalies at ordinary temperatures and at least one phenolic benzene nucleus having an hydroxyl group attached thereto which exhibits no substantially greater acidic nature than hydrogen sulphide at the washing temperature, the absorption solution being regenerated with heat.

3. A process for removing weakly acidic gases of the nature of hydrogen sulphide, hydrogen cyanide, carbon dioxide, and the like, from gaseous mixtures containing them and comprising, scrubbing the gaseous mixture with an alkaline solution of an acid selectedfrom the group consisting of the phenoland naphthol-sulphonic acids and their substitution derivatives, the absorption solution being regenerated with heat.

4. A claim as claimed in claim 3 in which the acid is selected from the group consisting of the hydroxy-benzoic acid, hydroxy-naphthoic acids and their substitution derivatives.

5. A process for separating hydrogen sulphide, and the like, from gaseous mixtures containing them and comprising, washing the gaseous mixture with a solution containing an acid selected from the class consisting of phenol-sulphonic acid and its substitution derivatives in combination with a base selected from the group consisting of the alkalies and alkaline earths, said base being 7 present in excess of that required by the acid radicals to about nine-tenths satisfy the stoichiometrical requirements of the phenol hydroxyl groups.

6. A process for the removal of weakly acidic gases from mixtures containing the same comprising: scrubbing the gaseous mixture with an alkaline solution containing a soluble salt of a phenolic acid that comprises a chemical compound containing the benzenes nucleus on separate carbon atoms of which are substituted a phenolic hydroxyl group and an acid group that is at least dibasic having at least one hydroxyl reactable with alkali, said solution containing sufficient alkali to combine with the acid group and the major portion of the phenol group, the absorption solution being regenerated with heat.

7. A process for the removal of weakly acidic gases from mixtures containing the same comprising, scrubbing the gaseous mixture with an aqueous solution of a base in combination with a chemical compound comprising a benzene nucleus on separate carbon atoms of which are substituted at least one phenolic hydroxyl group and an acid group derived from an acid that is at least dibasic, said solution containing sufllcient base to form the salt of the acid and also replace, hydrogen from the major portion of the phenolic hydroxyl groups in the solution, the absorption solution being regenerated with heat.

8. A process for the removal of weakly acidic gases from mixtures containing the same comprising, scrubbing the gaseous mixture with an alkaline solution of a base in combination with an organic acid comprising a benzene nucleus on separate carbon atoms of which are substituted a phenolic hydroxyl group from which a therewith combined base can be displaced by the weakly acidic gas to be absorbed and an acid group that is at least dibasic having at least one hydroxyl reactable with alkali, the electrolytic dissociation of which is greater than that of said acidic gas and from which a therewith combined base cannot be displaced by said gas, there being sutficient alkali to combine with the acid group and at least the major portion of the phenol group, and the absorption solution being regenerated with heat.

9. A process for the separation 01' weakly, acidic gases oi the nature of hydrogen sulphide, hydrogen cyanide, carbon dioxide, and the like, from mixtures containing the same, which comprises: washing said mixtures with an alkaline solution containing a base in combination with a mixture of organic acids of which one component is a compound having a benzene nucleus on separate carbon atoms of which are a phenolic hydroxyl group and an acid group derived from an acid that is at least dibasic, there being sufficient alkali to combine with the acid group and at least the major portion of the phenol group, and the absorption solution being regenerated with heat.

10. A process for the removal of weakly acidic gases of the nature of hydrogen sulphide, hydrogen cyanide, carbon dioxide, and the like, from mixtures containing them which comprises, scrubbing said mixtures with an aqueous solution containing a base selected from the alkali and alkaline earth metal groups in combination with an organic acid comprising a benzene nucleus on separate carbon atoms of which are substituted for hydrogen atoms at least one phenolic hydroxyl group and at least one other substituent that is acidic and derived from an acid that is at least dibasic, said other substituent having a substantially higher electrolytic dissociation constant than said weakly acidic gases, the solution containing suificient base to combine with the said other substituent and at least the major portion of the phenolic hydroxyl groups in the solution that are attached directly to the benzene nucleus, and the absorption solution being regenerated with heat. v

11. A continuous process for removing. weakly acidic gases such as hydrogen sulphide, hydrogen cyanide, carbon dioxide and the like, from gaseous mixtures containing them, which comprises, absorbing acidic gases from the gaseous mixture by washing the same with an aqueous solution containing an organic acid comprising a benzene nucleus on separate carbon atoms of which are a phenolic hydroxyl group and an acid group that is at least dibasic having at least one hydroxyl reactabie with alkali capable of displacing the weakly acidic gases irom combination with strong alkalies at ordinary temperature, andsuificient base, selected from the group consisting of the alkali and alkaline earth metals to combine with the acid radicals and at least the major portion of the phenolic hydroxyl groups in the solution; withdrawing the washing solution from contact with the gaseous mixture; elevating the temperature of the washing solution to liberate absorbed acidic gases; and scrubbing a new volume of the gaseous mixture with the actifled solution.

12. A process for the separation of hydrogen sulphide from gaseous mixtures containing the same, characterized by the gaseous mixture being scrubbed with an alkaline solution containing a soluble constituent having a substituted benzene nucleus containing a phenolic hydroxyl group or I groups attached to said benzene nucleus and an-' as comma. 

